9 Days Uganda & Rwanda Primate Safari

Overview—9 Days Uganda & Rwanda Primate Safari

The 9 Days Uganda & Rwanda Primate Safari is designed for travelers who want to immerse themselves in the world of East Africa’s great primates. This journey combines the thrill of trekking endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest, before crossing into Rwanda for a second gorilla experience and the rare chance to encounter golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. It is a safari that balances adventure, culture, and breathtaking landscapes across two countries, creating a deep and diverse primate-focused experience.

Over nine days, you will explore Uganda’s crater lakes and highlands, enjoy game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park, track chimps and gorillas in misty forests, and then cross into Rwanda’s dramatic volcanic ranges for even more primate encounters. This cross-border safari is the perfect choice for travelers seeking a rich, varied, and unforgettable introduction to the primate kingdom of East Africa.

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Detailed Itinerary —9 Days Uganda & Rwanda Primate Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Transfer to Hotel

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, your driver-guide meets you and transfers you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may explore the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or relax along the shores of Lake Victoria before dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, you set out on a scenic drive to western Uganda, a region known for crater lakes and rolling hills. You pass tea plantations and rural villages before arriving in Fort Portal, where you continue to Kibale Forest. This forest is known as the “Primate Capital of the World,” with thirteen primate species. Dinner and overnight are at your lodge on the forest’s edge.

Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale – Bigodi Wetland Walk

In the morning, you enter Kibale Forest with rangers in search of chimpanzees. The forest is alive with calls of birds and monkeys, and when you find the chimps, you spend an hour observing them feed, groom, and move through the canopy. In the afternoon, you visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run project famous for its birdlife and monkey sightings. Dinner and overnight are once again at your lodge.

Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, you drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The road offers views of the Rwenzori Mountains, known as the “Mountains of the Moon.” Arriving in the park, you check into your lodge before enjoying an afternoon game drive on the Kasenyi plains, where elephants, lions, and antelopes graze against a stunning backdrop. Dinner and overnight are at the lodge within the park.

Day 5: Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

The day begins with an early morning game drive, the best time to spot lions, leopards, and large herds of Uganda kob. After lunch, you enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel is filled with hippos, crocodiles, elephants along the banks, and countless water birds. The evening is spent back at your lodge with dinner and overnight in the park.

Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha

After breakfast, you leave Queen Elizabeth and drive through the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions resting in fig trees. Continuing south, the road winds into the highlands, and the misty rainforest of Bwindi comes into view. By late afternoon, you check into your lodge at the edge of the forest, ready for the gorilla adventure. Dinner and overnight are in the cool highland air.

Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi – Cross to Rwanda

This day is dedicated to gorilla trekking in Bwindi. After breakfast, you report to the park headquarters for a ranger briefing and then begin your trek into the dense jungle. The trail is challenging but rewarding, and when you meet the gorillas, the hour spent watching them is unforgettable. After the trek, you return to the lodge for lunch before transferring to the Cyanika or Katuna border. After clearing immigration, you drive into Rwanda and continue to Musanze, the gateway town to Volcanoes National Park. Dinner and overnight are at your lodge facing the volcanic ranges.

Day 8: Golden Monkey Tracking in Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, you enter Volcanoes National Park for golden monkey tracking. The trek is lighter than gorilla trekking and leads into bamboo forests where troops of golden monkeys leap from branch to branch with playful energy. Watching their lively behavior is both fascinating and entertaining. The afternoon is free to relax at your lodge or enjoy an optional cultural visit to the Iby’Iwacu cultural village, where traditional Rwandan life is showcased through music, dance, and storytelling. Dinner and overnight are at your lodge.

Day 9: Kigali City Tour and Departure

On your final morning, you enjoy breakfast before leaving Musanze for Kigali. The drive is scenic, offering views of Rwanda’s “thousand hills.” In Kigali, you may take a short city tour that includes the Genocide Memorial and local craft markets. The safari concludes with a transfer to Kigali International Airport for your onward flight.